Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

OXFORD — Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral has bought into his new role. Even if it's nothing like what he expected.

Two weeks removed from his official return from injury, Corral has played the last two games as a complementary quarterback, rotating in for drives and passing situations when starter John Rhys Plumlee isn't as suited for the task.

Corral, a redshirt freshman, was named Ole Miss' starting quarterback in the spring and started the first four games of this season before injuring his ribs against Cal. His current role isn't exactly the one he foresaw entering 2019. But he's accepted it.

"It's just if our number is called, we're going to run the offense," Corral explained Tuesday, speaking to the media for the first time since his injury. "We're going to put the ball where it needs to be every play. Rich Rod has done a good job of coaching us to do so. Just being ready and being locked in, supporting each other when you're not in."

The return

Since returning, Corral's production has been nearly identical to his pre-injury numbers, if not a smidgen better. His completion percentage is up to 60.6% from 60%. His yards per attempt are up to 7.8 from 7.4. And his yards per carry are up to 3.3 from 2.2.

The main difference for Corral has been volume. In his first four games, Corral was averaging 28.5 pass attempts and 10.3 carries per game. In his limited role, Corral is averaging 16.5 pass attempts and 3.5 carries per game.

For years, fans and players alike have been conditioned to believe that "rhythm" is one of the most important pathways to quarterback success. Quarterbacks get "hot," and that's when they make their best plays. Success breeds success, and therefore a series of good passes can breed the confidence for more good passes.

Corral isn't being afforded the opportunity to find that rhythm. Against Texas A&M, Corral's first half consisted of two deep throws, a rush attempt and a Hail Mary. His first snap of the third quarter was a 22-yard completion to set up a touchdown, then he didn't throw another pass on a snap that counted for 20 plays.

Corral said he believes rhythm matters for a quarterback. But he doesn't think it's the only thing that matters.

"A shooter's not going to stop shooting a 3-point shot if he keeps missing them and missing them. The only time he's going to make it is if he keeps on shooting," Corral said. "But we're not thinking about a rhythm standpoint. We're thinking about 'OK, Rich Rod thinks it's best for me to come in the game, so I'm going to go in the game and put the ball where it needs to be.'

"It's not about 'He's hot, stay in. He's cold, stay out.' It's about what's best for the team in that moment."

The offense

This is why Corral isn't concerned about the Ole Miss offense getting predictable. Sure, defenses know that Corral is more likely to throw than Plumlee, and that Plumlee is more likely to run than Corral.

But there's a flip side to that. Corral said if a defense sees him in the game and expects pass, he knows what the defense is going to do. If Ole Miss is playing against a team that runs a base Cover 2 defense, Corral can come in and know what coverage his opponents are going to give him before the ball is snapped.

So sure, defenses might know what play Corral is running. But Corral thinks any advantage the defense gains from that is neutralized by him figuring out what scheme the defense is running.

All this said, Corral's days of rotating might be numbered. Plumlee underwent a procedure to repair a knee injury this week and wasn't at practice Tuesday. Ole Miss coach Matt Luke said he doesn't expect Plumlee to practice at all this week, giving Corral all the first-team reps with true freshman Grant Tisdale behind him on the depth chart.

Luke said Monday that he expects Plumlee to be ready for the Rebels' next game against Auburn. But, to be fair, Luke also said there was a chance Corral could play one week after his injury, and then Corral rode the bench for two games.

If Plumlee can't go, Corral might get the chance to be the 3-point shooter taking shots until they start falling. But if Plumlee does return, Corral is comfortable doing what he's done the last two games.

"It is what it is," Corral said. "We're just trying to do what's best for the team to win some football games. That's what's best for the team right now."